Pontiac hops co-op receives $200,000 for pelletizer

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The new hops pelletizer.

Gaëtan Forgues
and
Allyson Beauregard



The new hops pelletizer.

Gaëtan Forgues
and
Allyson Beauregard

MANSFIELD – Pontiac MNA André Fortin, on behalf of the Minister of the Economy, Science and Innovation, Dominique Anglade, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Pierre Paradis, announced that the Coop de solidarité Houblon Pontiac (Pontiac Hops Cooperative) will receive $200,000 in financial support for an initiative valued at close to $437,000.
The project aimed primarily to acquire a
granulating machine and specialized equipment required to transform hops into high quality granules that meet microbrewery standards. The co-op will also establish its processing and distribution centre in Mansfield. Although the main users of the equipment will be co-op members and producers, services will also be offered to other producers and microbreweries in Quebec and Ontario.
“This initiative will contribute to the economic diversification of the MRC Pontiac. The fact that this project was developed with several partners demonstrates the importance of not only encouraging the agriculture and agri-food sectors, but also of supporting processing and marketing activities in order to make the Pontiac region the hops capital of Quebec,” said Fortin.
“The hops project first began in 2009. This new project will also create jobs and will promote economic growth,” said MRC Pontiac Warden Raymond Durocher.
The Government funding provided to the Coop de solidarité Houblon Pontiac includes a non-repayable financial contribution of $150,000 from the Ministry of the Economy, Science and Innovation, as well as a $50,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
According to Mireille Alary, the hops co-op President and President of the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce, the technical capabilities of the new equipment and facility will allow the Pontiac to meet all of the hops processing needs of Quebec producers. “We are currently working on finding the best composition formula for the pellets and plan to be in production in early fall after the harvest,” she added.
The MRC Pontiac has supported, both financially and technically, the development of the hops sector in the Pontiac since its inception. Founded in 2012, the Coop de solidarité Houblon Pontiac offers its members a range of goods and services related to hops production, processing, and marketing.